THE REMOVAL OF THE EC BOSS HIGHLIGHTS FUNDAMENTAMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH THE 1992 CONSTITUTION – CPP

The Conventions People’s Party (CPP) has said the removal of Charlotte Osei as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission together with her two deputy commissioners, highlights fundamental problems with the country’s 1992 constitution.

According to the party, the setting up of a committee by the Chief Justice to probe the three and the subsequent recommendation for their removal is in itself problematic.

The CPP’s Director of Elections, James Kwabena Bonfeh, also lamented President Akufo-Addo’s push for constitutional reforms. “This particular matter raises fundamental issues with the 1992 constitution… the forward march of this country cannot be guaranteed if we do nothing about the 1992 constitution”, he told the media.

Mr. Bomfeh said: “Aside from President Jerry John Rawlings, all the other Presidents we have had, have on one occasion or the other, had a cause to lament the inconsistencies and contradictions in the 1992 constitution”.

“The mere fact that we have the indemnity clause in there is enough cause to worry”, he added. The CPP has said it will wait for the full investigative report before making more comments on the removal of EC Chair and the two deputy commissioners.

James Bonfeh stated: “We will not be rushed into commenting. We will not isolate the matter from the preceding [issues]. We will probe all of them in a holistic manner”.

The removal of Charlotte Osei and two deputy commissioners, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwa from office, followed the recommendations of a Committee set up by the Chief Justice.

This was after the President forwarded some petitions he had received on the three EC officials to the Chief Justice. Madam Charlotte Osei was investigated over six allegations of various procurement breaches, for which a prima facie case was established against her.

The two deputy commissioners were also accused of various procurement breaches and financial malfeasance.

The Minority in Parliament, however, views the removal of the electoral commissioner as an attempt by the Akufo-Addo government to rig the 2020 elections.

Mr. Emile Short, the former Commissioner for the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says the accusations that President Nana Akufo-Addo was attempting to rig the 2020 elections are misplaced.

He said: “The President doesn’t have discretion in the matter so I don’t understand the argument or the statements of those who are saying that the President had acted in a manner which suggests that he had victimized the persons concerned”.